Elizabeth Morgan | Matters to discuss at WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference

June is a month of high-profile international meetings. The Summit of the Americas started on Monday in Los Angeles and, by now, we will know which heads are attending and how the meeting is progressing.

Also happening this week, from June 7, in Brussels, is the Council Meeting of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), which coincides with OACPS Founders Day.

Next week (June 12-15) will be the three-time postponed 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The following week (June 20-26) will be the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda.

I last wrote about the WTO MC12 in March, when a decision was taken that the postponed meeting would be held in the week of June 12. The war in Ukraine had started and it was evident that it would impact work in the WTO, of which both Ukraine and the Russian Federation are members.

The European Union (EU) has pointed out that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has added to the complexity of preparing and organising for MC12. The EU has called for a special session at MC 12 where ministers can express views on the geopolitical situation.

Since March, my impression is that work has plodded on at the WTO in the various negotiating groups in the hope that the ministerial meeting can be held, as is now scheduled. The final form and focus of the meeting will be decided when the General Council meets on Tuesday, June 7, and reviews the state of work.

So far, as I can see, the current status of the negotiations are as follows:

AGRICULTURE – Work is still in progress on a draft ministerial decision on agricultural trade reform; a draft ministerial declaration on trade and food security; and a draft ministerial declaration on exempting from export bans, food bought by the UN’s World Food Programme for humanitarian purposes. There are other issues under discussion, such as public stockholdings and the special safeguard mechanism.

Members are seeking outcomes in agriculture which will address a looming food crisis and food security.

FISHERIES SUBSIDIES - The draft agreement is still under review, with the hope of ironing out outstanding issues which might allow this agreement to be finally adopted at MC12.

TRIPS WAIVER REQUEST for Vaccine Production – A draft text is still under discussion.

E-COMMERCE MORATORIUM – The hope is that the e-commerce moratorium will be renewed, as India and South Africa will withdraw any opposition and support its continuation.

PLASTICS POLLUTION – Discussions have been continuing to determine how to implement the December 2021 declaration on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade, and to determine how this matter can be reflected at the WTO. This is part of the discussions on Sustainable Trade (trade, environment and climate change).

WTO REFORM – There is still work in progress to get some outcome on reform in the organisation, including in dispute settlement and development concerns.

There are informal declarations on trade, gender and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) agreed by interested members.

DOMINATE DISCUSSIONS

The lingering COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues, rising inflation, food crisis, and the continuing war in Ukraine are issues which will dominate discussions and statements at MC12. Members, including those in CARICOM, will be seriously considering their dependence on other countries for fuel, food and strategically necessary goods, such as medical supplies. Climate change and the use of and trade in fossil fuels also cannot be ignored, especially with protracted droughts, rising temperatures, ferocious fires, and a predicted very active hurricane season.

WTO members, in my view, will be reflecting on the future of trade and globalization, and the WTO’s contribution to global economic recovery.

The MC12 will be a scaled down in-person meeting held in Geneva. At this point, just being able to convene it will be considered a success. From there, we will see what useful outcomes may result.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.